The 2026 Oceania Athletes Forum entered Day 2 of its programme with nearly 40 representatives gathering under the theme Inspiration to Action. Formally opened by Kenny Wallace, Chair of the ONOC Athletes Commission, and Deputy Chair Matelita Buadromo — a Fijian Olympian and swimmer at the 2012 London Olympics — the Forum built on a historic milestone from the previous day: the first time in ONOC history that athlete representatives had been formally seated at the Annual General Assembly alongside NOC presidents and secretaries general.
“Our goal is to make sure that the athletes are genuinely, sustainably part of the conversation — not just when it’s convenient, and not just to tick your governance box, but because you all bring the lived experience that people cannot replicate.”
Kenny Wallace, Chair, ONOC Athletes Commission
IOC President Kirsty Coventry and ONOC President Baklai Temengil-Chilton then joined emcee Sarah Walker for an open-floor session that gave Pacific athlete representatives the rare opportunity to put their hardest questions directly to the two most senior leaders in Olympic sport in the region. Topics spanned governance, climate change, personal journeys through and beyond competition, and the IOC’s Fit for Future review. President Coventry was candid about the decision to pause the Youth Olympic Games.
“We need to be brave enough to say that’s not working, we’re going to stop it, we’re going to evaluate it. That is a little bit of a new culture for us.” Kirsty Coventry, President, International Olympic Committee
Across the venue, the Oceania Impact Network (OIN) Partnership Forum opened under the theme From Idea to Impact, bringing together founding partners and advocates from across the Pacific to advance the movement for safer, more inclusive sport. In her opening address, President Baklai grounded the network in its founding spirit and in Pacific values of talanoa, trust, and relationships.
“Across Oceania, we know that sport is much more than competition. Sport is education. Sport is health. Sport is culture. Sport is community. And increasingly, sport is a platform for social impact and transformation.”
Baklai Temengil-Chilton, President, Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC)
The Founders in Conversation panel, moderated by ONOC Executive Director Inoke Bainimarama, brought together the network’s five founding partners — the ONOC Equity Commission, UN Women, Team Up, Olympic Solidarity, and Olympism365 — on how collaboration is delivering tangible results. Olympic Solidarity’s Sinead Dowling highlighted safeguarding training delivered across 15 Pacific NOCs, with national action plans and implementation funding built in. Team Up’s Roshika Deo spoke to the Play for Equity grant, now in its third cycle with 24 grantees and Pacific community leaders functioning as system designers. NZOC President and ONOC Equity Commission Chair Liz Dawson closed the panel.
“Having boots on the ground to deliver, resources from the IOC, and people of the region who understand the culture and communities — that combination has been so impactful. We have people coming through who will be doing our jobs in the not too distant future. That is sustainability in action.” Liz Dawson, President, New Zealand Olympic Committee and Chair, ONOC Equity Commission
The OIN Governance Forum and the Oceania Athletes Forum both conclude on Saturday 23 May, with sessions focused on the OIN’s 2026—2028 roadmap and athlete protection and welfare.
